Syringa plant named ‘Jeftini’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Syringa plant named ‘Jeftini’ that is characterized by its compact and dense plant habit, reaching between 1.2 m and 1.5 m in height, its non-suckering growth habit, its large leaves with impressed veins on upper leaf surface and its fragrant, full panicles with bright pink flowers.

Botanical classification: Syringa x prestoniae.

Variety denomination: ‘Jeftini’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Syringax prestoniae that is botanically known as Syringa ‘Jeftini’ and will bereferred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Jeftini’. ‘Jeftini’ is anew cultivar of lilac grown for use as an ornamental landscape plant.

‘Jeftini’ arose from an on going breeding program conducted by theInventor in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. The objectives of thebreeding program are to develop new cultivars of Syringa with a compactand dwarf plant habit, improved flowering and cold hardiness.

‘Jeftini’ originated as a cross made by the Inventor in June of 2007between Syringa x prestoniae cultivars ‘Charisma’ (not patented) as thefemale parent and ‘Miss Canada’ (not patented) as the male parent. TheInventor selected ‘Jeftini’ as a single unique plant amongst theseedlings that resulted from the above cross in June of 2011.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stemcuttings in June 2012 under the direction of the Inventor in Portage laPrairie, Manitoba, Canada. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings hasdetermined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable andare reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Jeftini’ as a unique cultivar of Syringa.

-   -   1. ‘Jeftini’ exhibits a compact and dense plant habit, reaching        between 1.2 m and 1.5 m in height.    -   2. ‘Jeftini’ exhibits non-suckering growth habit.    -   3. ‘Jeftini’ exhibits large leaves with impressed veins on the        upper surface.    -   4. ‘Jeftini’ exhibits fragrant, full panicles with bright pink        flowers.

The female parent of ‘Jeftini’, differs from ‘Jeftini’ in having leavesthat are smaller in size, flowers that are purple in color, paniclesthat are compressed and a more dwarf plant habit. The male parent of‘Jeftini’, differs from ‘Jeftini’ in having a larger plant size andfewer flower panicles. The new Syringa can be most closely compared toSyringa x prestoniae cultivar ‘Minuet’ (not patented) and Syringa patula‘Miss Kim’ (not patented). ‘Minuet Preston’ is similar to ‘Jeftini’ inhaving compact plant habit and large leaves with impressed veins.‘Minuet’ differs from ‘Jeftini’ in having flowers that are lavender pinkin color and a larger plant size at maturity. ‘Miss Kim’ is similar to‘Jeftini’ in having a compact plant habit with a small stature andnon-suckering growth habit. ‘Miss Kim’ differs from ‘Jeftini’ in havingflowers that are lavender blue in color.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating tosales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than oneyear prior to the effective filing date of this application. Anyinformation about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date. Disclosure includes but may not be limited to awebsite listing by Zosel Tree Farm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Syringa.

The photograph in FIG. 1 was taken of a 5-year-old plant as grown in atrial garden in Cottage Grove, Minn. and provides a side view of a plantof ‘Jeftini’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 was taken of a plant 6-years in age as grown ina trial garden in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada and provides aclose-up view of an inflorescence of ‘Jeftini’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized and the color values citedin the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors ofthe new Syringa.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of 5-year-old plants as grown outdoors infive-gallon containers in Cottage Grove, Minn. The phenotype of the newcultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, andcultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance withThe 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—2 weeks in mid June in Canada.        -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub.        -   Plant habit.—Compact, short statured.        -   Height and spread.—An average of 1.2 m to 1.5 m in height            and 0.91 m to 1.2 m in width when mature in the landscape.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 2.        -   Diseases and pests.—No resistance or susceptibility to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and dense, a blend of 165A and            161D in color.        -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Root development.—Roots intiate in 30 to 40 days, a young            rooted plug liner is produced in about 75 days.-   Branch description:    -   -   Branch shape.—Rounded.        -   Branch color.—Young; a blend of N144A, 148A, flushed with            178A, mature branches; a blend of 165A and 199A and 199D,            mature wood; 199C and 201D.        -   Branch size.—Young lateral branches; average of 42 cm in            length, 1 cm in diameter, main branches; 21 cm in length, 2            cm in width.        -   Branch surface.—Young branches; smooth and glabrous,            moderately covered with lenticels, an average of 10            lenticels per cubic cm; 0.5 mm in diameter, 159C in color,            mature branches; slightly rugose, slightly glossy and woody,            moderately covered with lenticels; an average of 8 lenticels            per cubic cm, 155A in color, an average of 0.5 mm in            diameter, trunk; rugose, dull and bark-like.        -   Branch quantity.—Average of 2 main branches, average of 3            mature branches per main branches, average of 7 young            lateral branches growing per mature branch.        -   Internode length.—6 cm in length.        -   Branching.—Held upright to slightly outward.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Emerging elliptic, maturing into lanceolate.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Acute.        -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate and acute.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, veins impressed on upper surface,            upper surface color; matches leaf color and slightly            transluscent, lower surface color; matches leaf color with            main vein 178A in color.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire and slightly undulate, densely covered            with minute pubescent stiff hairs that match the leaf color.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface matte, lower surface slightly            glossy, both surfaces densely covered with very minute            pubescent stiff hairs, transluscent to 155C in color.        -   Leaf size.—An average of 9 cm in length and 3 cm in width.        -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 48 leaves per mature branch.        -   Leaf color.—Young leaves upper and lower surface;            transluscent, 144A, flushed with 176A.        -   Petioles.—An average of 1 cm in length and 1 mm in width,            young petiote color 178A, mature petiole color 183A, both            surface are glossy and moderately covered with minute            pubescent stiff hairs transluscent to 155C in color.        -   Bracts.—An average of 2, at the base of a leaf cluster, an            average of 5 mm in length and 2 mm in width, upper and lower            surfaces; slightly glossy, slightly transluscent, 150D,            margins 145A, tip flushed with 174A in color.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Thyrse compound panicles on terminals            and laterals, broad ovate in overall shape.        -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 17 cm in length and 15 cm            in width.        -   Attitude of inflorescence.—Upright to semi-upright.        -   Rachis.—Rounded in shape, up to 3 cm in length and an            average of 2 mm in width, surface is glabrous, moderately            strong, color is 144A with flushes of 179A, tiny lenticels            densely cover the surface; average of <0.5 mm in length and            NN155 in color, flushed around lenticels with 178A in color.        -   Peduncles.—An average of 3 cm in length and 2 mm in width,            glabrous and slightly glossy surface, moderate strength,            144A in color and slightly flushed with 176A in color.        -   Petioles.—An average of 2 mm in length and 1 mm in width,            surface glabrous, 144A in color and slightly flushed with            176A in color.        -   Flower buds.—Round to oval in shape, an average of 1 mm in            length and 2 mm diameter, slightly glossy and glabrous            surface, young bud color; 144C, flushed with 178A, mature            bud color; 68A and 71A, base 69A        -   Flower fragrance.—Sweet, strong, lilac scent.        -   Persistence of flowers.—Self-cleaning, calyx persistent.        -   Lastingness of flowers.—Individual panicles bloom for about            2 weeks, depending on temperature.        -   Flower quantity.—An average of 500 flowers per compound            panicle.        -   Flower type.—Salverform with spreading petals.        -   Flower aspect.—Upwards and outward.        -   Flower size.—An average of 1.5 cm in length, diameter 1 cm            at apex, tapering to 1 mm at the base.        -   Petals.—4, free petal lobes; an average of 3 mm in length            and 2 mm in width, oblong in shape with acute apices, entire            margin, lower 80% fused forming a narrow tube, upper and            lower surfaces smooth and glabrous, color; when opening            inner and outer surface 75B flushed with 67A, when fully            open inner and outer surface 67A, margins 75C and 75D,            attitude semi-erect to drooping with apex slightly recurved.        -   Flower tube.—1 cm in length and 2 mm in width, inner and            outer surfaces are smooth and globrous, color; when opening            and fully open inner and outer surface 67A.        -   Calyx.—Campanulate, about 2 mm in depth and 1 mm in width,            comprised of 4 fused sepals with tips unfused with acute            apexes, glabrous inner and outer surface, 144C in color.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistils.—1, inserted deep into calyx, average of 8 mm in            length, stigma; 2 mm in length 1 mm in diameter, oval in            shape, NN155D in color, style; NN155D in color.        -   Stamens.—3, extend beyond corolla, anthers; an average of 2            mm in length and 10A in color, filaments; about 1.3 cm in            length and NN155D in color, transluscent, pollen; abundant            in quantity and 10A in color.        -   Fruit and seed.—No fruit or seed has been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Syringa plant named‘Jeftini’ as herein illustrated and described.